Anne Beattie At Wesleyan

Anne Beattie, one of America's most prominent writers of fiction, reads from her works Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Russell House on the campus of Wesleyan University in Middletown.

Beattie, whose latest collection, ``Follies: New Stories,'' was published earlier this year, is known for her sharp assessment of the Baby Boom generation, which she has chronicled in her eight story collections and seven novels, which include ``Picturing Will'' and ``Chilly Scenes of Winter.''

Her fiction has won many awards, including one from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.

This week, she was honored with the $30,000 Rea Award for the Short Story, given annually to a living American writer whose work has made a significant contribution to that form of writing. The jurors said ``her prose has become known for its vivid particularity, the details of the way we live.

Her reading is free, and it will be followed by a book signing and reception. Beattie's appearance is a Wesleyan Writing Program and Distinguished Writers Series event.